The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-12-26
humping along the front Of the house, and
then, bang II went, against tho front


slowly opened bis eyes, he said, In daze
ways: l.Ts' }iI
Mildred kicked, and then run away.
expect she's running yet. Whoa there
Mildred, whoaln lEl;'5
she means hl horse, I expect" sul
gested Mr.. Hastings. .s-E,' y
"Eh--oh-Where am I-Your honor
the case 10 called" s..
"This isn't the court room" said MI
Haatings, laughing hoarsely. Grouse up
man. You've been pitched In amopi
iriends:. Are you hurt2 Emmy bone
broke2" 1Et 55 aa6l,E7 Tg1
"No, Mr.. Hastings, I'm all right now
but 1t WAS q close call, that. I'm only
bruised and shaken up Bome." :
swell, wlfc, fetch some arniky and
well soon find the BRUISED. Come tc
think OF 1t you'll have to stay all night,
and that's good luck for us. We've got 4
OhriB'maa company to entertain alter all,
Jenny" - 'f-l9E'
Seth franklin was very willing to settle
down for the night in that comfortable
home, he who had no home at all, now
that hismother was in the West. He felt
all about him the sweet influence OF the
woman he loved, yet he had not the
courage to ask why ahe was not there.
Mr.. Hastings finally explained that Mil.
dred had gone to see her friend, Barbara
Curtis, and as 1t was late, they would not
slt up any longer but would have worship
OF once. Worship meant reading aloud
the wonderful story, "Ohrlst ia Born" and
the singing Of hymn. Seth was good
tenor, and bis voice blended well with
Mildred's, but he was too much shaken
up to night to sing. So father and mother
Hastings quavered along in the old.fash.
Toned tune thatso well suits the marvel.
GUS story:
while shepherds watched their tlocks by night,
AL seated on the ground, t .-'-.F'
Tho Angel Of the Lord came down,
And glory shonc around" s..5,
Seth listened as II in a dream. It all re-.
solved itself into one theme Mildred
Mildred. Alasl the worship OF bis coward.
ly heart was for the creature, instead OF
the creator, but then we know that God Ia
love. l...eE0I~ i
He made a final pretense OF going home,
but Mr.. Hastings eaid emphatically:
"Why man alive you're erasyl You
OOA OWL Oub VI Lib LUsulkuts
80 hs was installed In the secret guest.
chamber and being afraid TO disturb the
immaculate squares OF lace and embrold-;
cry, that protected tho pillows, be rolled
himself In sumpter blanket and laid;
down on the divan-soia. S2%$;$$S.:sS
A half hour later Mildred and her friend
came, home, and: finding the latch string
out, stole softly in and hurried up.stairs.:
As Mildred passed her mother room she
went in and;left q goodnight kiss. Mrs.
Hastings WAS nearly asleep; but she
whispered Something to Mildfed in q dis
jointed fashion-that' brough the color into
the good woman's face. y ;
She laughed when she was in her room
with her friends and light.
"Mother said something about the spare
room. I expect she has present there
for me. When child had to 10 there
in the dark and find 1t. I always found a
doll" - =
"You are too old for dolls now" an
swered her friend, lightly, ''but whatever
It is you can find it by your sense OF feel.
Come them" said Mildred, and they
joined hands and stepped together over
the hall, and stood on the threshold OF The
guest-chamber.
"Do you know it is the first time in my
memory that this room was unoccupied
by a Christmas guest. I remember how
frightened Aunt Polly once by creeping
in to get my Christmas gift" =
SHAY be her ghost is there now" whis-
pered Barbara. sa,3-5
Mildred gave q smothered Shrek and
then the two stepped in giggling like
school girls.
The undisturbed white bed doomed up
in the darkness. :.
Christmas present where are your
/. "Here-present!" answered choking
voice-a mans voice unmistakably.
The screams that followed, brought
Father and Mother Hastings on the scene,
half dressed but wholly awake, each car.
rying weapon Of defense. Mrs. Hast.
ings armed with rolling pin, and MIR.
Hastings with the tongs.
There was very pretty tableau reveal.
ed to them then. Seth franklin brayely
supporting the hali-iainting form Of Mil.
dred, to whom Barbara was clinging, shrek.
ing hysterically. So = &. 4.
Gil thought" sobbed Mildred ''he
was Christmas present.
II am, if you will only take me-" was 1t
Seth franklin vino spoke up in that clear
ringing voice2
swell! WE'LL well;" laughed Father
Hastings, "if ever see the like Of thatl"
ut is Christmas eve," continued Seth in
that eloquent voice that had convinced
iuries and influenced judges" there ia no
nolier or happier time to bring loving
hearts together than this. Twas at deaths
door tonight, and saw my wasted life in
new light. want Mildred"- looked
at her humbly and deprecatingly-"does
Mildred want me? - Ia
Her bluahing, fearful face was more
eloquent than any words. 81.